Improvement in friction-clutches



U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. WESTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN HEINS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRlCTlON-CLUTCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,661, dated December 8, 187 1; application filed September 8, 1874.

CASE 0.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. WEsToN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Brake-Clutch, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to clutch a hoisting barrel or other driver to, and release it from, a shaft with less abruptness than by ordinary friction-clutch devices; and this object I attain by the device illustrated in the side view, Figure 1, vertical section, Fig. 2, and the section, Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawing. i

A is the driving-shaft,to which is secured the friction-wheel B, having an outer flange a, and innerflange, b, to the former ofwhich is adapted a friction-band, I), and to the latter a frictionband, E. G is a hoisting-drum adapted to the shaftA, and loose on the same, excepting'when clutched in the manner explained hereafter; and this barrel has an extended flange, h, to

which, by an annular rib, e, is secured an annular plate, H, and between the latter and the said flange his the double-flangedfrictionwheel above mentioned. To the conical hub of this friction-wheel is adapted a frictionclutch, K, which can be moved to or fro on the shaft A by a suitable lever; and to this friction-clutch is secured an arm, L, a pin, m, on the outer end of which passes through a segmental slot, f, in the annular plate H, one end of the inner friction-band E being connected to the said pin m, and the other end to a pin, a, on a lever, M, which is hung to a pin, p, on the annular plate H, and which has a pin, q, for receiving one end of the outer friction-band l), the other end being connected to a pin, t, on the annular plate H.

The above-mentioned pin it on the lever M and the pin g on the same lever pass through segmental slots in the annular plate H, as shown in Fig. 1.

Supposing the shaft A to be revolving in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, and the clutch K to be moved into frictional contact with the hub of the friction-wheel B, the arm L will be instantly moved in the direction of its arrow, and will tighten the inner frictionband E to the inner flange I) of the frictionwheel; but as this band E is connected to the band D through the medium of the lever M, it must operate that lever and tighten the outer friction-band D to the outer flange a of the friction-wheel.

In other words, the inner friction-band is the first to em brace its flange of the frictionwheel. Before a tight embrace is accomplished, however, the outer friction-band begins to embrace its flange; hence the clutchin g of the barrel G to the shaft, although rapidly accomplished, is not so abrupt as when one friction-band only is employed, owing to the fact that the action of one frictiolrbaud is slightly in advance of that of the other.

On withdrawing the friction-clutch K from the hub of the friction-Wheel, a spring, to, acting on the arm L, and a like spring on the lever M, will cause the expansion of both friction-bands, and the hoisting-barrel Gr will be at liberty.

It will be understood that my invention is quite as applicable to any wheel, or other driver, as to the hoisting-drum, and that other frictional devices may be substituted for the friction-clutch K.

It will also be understood that three, or even more, friction-bands may be used where a still more gradual clutching of the driver to the shaft is required, the contraction of one band depending upon and succeeding that of the other.

I claim as my inventiou The combination, with the barrel G, or other driver, of a friction-wheel, B, to which are adapted two or more friction-hands, connected together through the medium of a lever or levers, M, and operated one in advance of the other, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof lhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

THOS. A. WESTON.

Witnesses:

E. H. BAILEY, HARRY SMITH. 

